28 FISTULA AND POLL-EVIL 
cavities. In poll-evil it is the anterior part of 
the funicular portion of the lgamentum 
nuche that prevents healing, while in fistula 
of the withers it is the posterior end or its liga- 
mentous continuation—the supraspinous liga- 
ment—that is implicated. 
Cartilages of the Withers 
The cartilaginous tissue included among the 
component parts of the withers is found in the 
scapular cartilage (cartilage of prolongation) 
and in the semi-cartilaginous summits of the 
dorsal spines. 
The scapular cartilage which is attached to 
the vertebral border of the scapula is a wide 
expanse of hyaline cartilage about two inches 
wide extending from the cervical to the dorsal 
angle. It is thick at the attachment to the 
bone but becomes thin toward its vertebral 
border which presents an evenly rounded pro- 
file. Its mesial relations are the rhomboideus 
and the serratus ventralis and its lateral the 
trapezius and the attachment of the panniculus 
carnosis. ‘To these muscles it is intimately 
related, being in fact imbedded in them. It 
forms the lateral wall of many of the secondary 
abscesses of fistula and its cervical angle and 
sometimes its vertebral border becomes impli- 
cated in the disease. By becoming divested of 
